You hit Print, and the Mac gives you too many menus, the wrong printer, or nothing at all. Printing on Mac is still built around the same File menu and Command-P shortcut, but the best path changes for AirPrint, browsers, PDFs, photos, and stuck queues. Start with the standard print box, then use the sections below only when your printer, file type, or print job needs something more specific.
Start with the Mac print dialog
Use this path first in any Mac app that supports printing.
- 1.Open the document, PDF, email, image, or webpage you want to print.
- 2.Choose File and Print, or press Command-P.
- 3.Open the Printer menu and choose the printer you want to use.
- 4.Set Copies, Print Range, Print in Color, Double-Sided, Paper Size, Orientation, or Scaling as needed.
- 5.Click Print.
Add your printer to macOS
Open the Apple menu, then choose System Settings and open Printers & Scanners. Click Add Printer, Scanner, or Fax, select your Wi-Fi or network printer from the list, then click Add. macOS uses AirPrint when the printer supports it.
For a USB printer, open Printers & Scanners, click Add Printer, Scanner, or Fax, then connect the printer to your Mac with the appropriate cable. If your Mac has a single USB-C port, use a multiport adapter.
For a Bluetooth printer, click Add Printer, Scanner, or Fax, select the Bluetooth printer, and click Add.
Tip: if the printer is missing from the print box, add it in Printers & Scanners, then print again.
Print wirelessly with AirPrint
AirPrint is the cleanest wireless route when your printer supports it. Put the printer on the same Wi-Fi network as your Mac, then open the document you want to print.
Choose File and Print. Open the Printer menu, choose your AirPrint printer, select the rest of your print options, and click Print.
AirPrint can also work through supported USB or Ethernet connections, depending on the printer hardware. AirPrint does not print to a printer connected to the USB port of an AirPort Base Station.
If this method fails, choose Add Printer from the Printer menu, or add the printer through System Settings and Printers & Scanners.
Use an IP address for network printers
Use this method when a network printer does not appear in the regular printer list, but you have its address and connection details. macOS supports this path for printers using AirPrint, Internet Printing Protocol - IPP, Line Printer Daemon - LPD, or HP Jetdirect - Socket.
Open System Settings and go to Printers & Scanners. Click Add Printer, Scanner, or Fax, then click the IP button. Enter the printer's Address, Protocol, Queue, Name, Location, and Use details. Click Add.
Some generic protocols expose fewer printer features, so choose AirPrint or the printer's specific software when that option appears.
Print webpages from your browser
Each browser can print a page, but the cleaner options sit in different places.
- 1.In Safari, open the webpage, press Command-P, choose your print settings, and click Print.
- 2.For a cleaner Safari article, click the page menu button in the Smart Search field, choose Show Reader, then choose File and Print or press Command-P.
- 3.In Chrome, open the page, image, or file, choose File and Print or press Command-P, select the destination and settings, then click Print.
- 4.In Firefox, open the menu button, choose Print, adjust Destination, Copies, Orientation, Pages, Color mode, or More settings, then click Print.
- 5.In Microsoft Edge, open the webpage or PDF, choose Settings and more and Print, press Command-P, or right-click an empty area and choose Print.
Control PDFs and photos before printing
This fixes a PDF, screenshot, or photo that is printing with the wrong pages, size, rotation, or layout.
Open a PDF or image in Preview. Choose View and Thumbnails when you need specific pages or thumbnails, then Command-click the pages or thumbnails you want. Choose File and Print, then set Selection, Auto Rotate, Show Notes, Scale, Scale to Fit, Copies per page, or Pages per Sheet. Click Print.
For photos, open Photos and go to Library. Select one or more photos, then choose File and Print. Select a format, choose the printer and settings, then click Print in the print dialog.
Tune paper size, duplex, and presets
For one print job, open the document, choose File and Print, then choose a size from the Paper Size menu. For the Mac's routine default, open the Apple menu, choose System Settings, open Printers & Scanners, and choose from the Default paper size menu.
For double-sided printing, choose File and Print, open the Double-Sided menu, and choose On, Off, or On (Short Edge). The duplex menu appears when the printer and app support it.
For a reusable setup, choose your print settings, open the Presets menu, and choose Save Current Settings as Preset. Enter a Preset Name, choose Available for, then pick that preset from the Presets menu the next time you print.
If this method fails, look for the setting under Layout, Paper Handling, or Media & Quality in the print dialog.
Make one printer the default
Open the Apple menu and choose System Settings. Open Printers & Scanners, then use the Default printer menu to choose a specific printer or Last Printer Used.
You can also Control-click a printer in the Printers list and choose Set Default Printer. Use this when jobs keep going to the wrong printer.
Another route sits in Print Center. Open Print Center, select the printer in the sidebar, choose Printer, then choose Make Default.
Clear a stuck print job
The most common cause is a paused queue or a failed job blocking everything behind it.
Click the Print Center icon in the Dock after you print, or open Print Center from Applications and Utilities. Select the stuck job. Click Resume Job to continue it, click Hold Job to pause it, or click Delete Job to remove it from the queue.
To pause or resume every job going to one printer, select the printer in the sidebar and use Pause or Resume in the toolbar.
When printing still fails after the queue is clear, remove and add the printer again from Printers & Scanners. As a final troubleshooting step, Control-click the printer list in Printers & Scanners and choose Reset Printing System; this deletes all printers, completed print job information, and printer presets, so add your printers again afterward.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the keyboard shortcut to print on a Mac?
Press Command-P in a Mac app that supports printing. Then choose the printer and settings, and click Print.
Why does my printer not show up on my Mac?
Add it from System Settings > Printers & Scanners > Add Printer, Scanner, or Fax. For AirPrint, put the printer on the same Wi-Fi network as the Mac.
Can I print only part of a PDF on Mac?
Yes. Open the PDF in Preview, choose View > Thumbnails, Command-click the pages you want, then choose File > Print and use Selection.
Can I still use Google Cloud Print on Mac?
No. Google Cloud Print shut down after December 31, 2020. Use the macOS print dialog, AirPrint, printer software, or browser print features instead.